Turret unit



P 1953 L. ELLIOTT 2,651,973

TURRET UNIT Filed Jan. 16, 1951 2 Sheefis-Sheet 1 17 W L5 F ".1

I Kg 16 14 3 a a 1 'lll/ ""o,

INVENTOR Lee Elliott ATTORNEYS L. ELLIOTT TURRET UNIT Sept. 15, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 16, 1951 I Z Z n e. e L

ATTOIIIYS Patented Sept. 15, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TURRET UNIT Lee Elliott, Bakersfield, Calif.

Application January 16, 1951, Serial N.o..206,165

(Cl. 893.6l

5 Claims. IV This invention. relates generally to: military equipment.

It is amajor object: of. the. invention. to provide a'turretfior pill-box which ismobile; i. e.

a turret which can be readily transported to a fighting line and promptly set for use. When aturret which, when connected in. pairs and.

coupled to a draftyoke, can be hitched to and rolled as a unit behind a motor vehicle such as a jeep'or truck. Thus, the turrets can be moved from place to place as conditions require.

A further Objectof the invention is to provide a novel-assembly for securing the pair of turrets, which are dome shaped, end to end within a draft yoke; the axis of the turrets extending transversely of the direction of travel, and there being roaden'gaging rings about said turrets concentric to such axis.

An additional object of the invention .is to provide means for connecting a number of. the turret units in tandem for draft by 'asingle motor vehicle;

It is also an object of this invention to provide a turret unit whichiis designed so that it. may be easily manufactured in quantity, and without excessive cost.

Still another object of the inventionis to prosuch structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following. specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan view of the turret unit as assembled for pulling behind a motor vehicle.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of one of the turret as removed from the assembly and set up for use; the .docrandan adjacent firing port being shown open.

Fig.3 is an. enlarged fragmentary cross section on line 33'of Fig. 1.

Fig. i is a diagrammatic plan View. on reduced scale; showing a pair of the turret units as coupled togetherfor draft in tandem relation.

Fig. 5 isa fragmentary side elevation showing the ma nnerof connecting a supplementary draft yoke to the draft arms of one turret unit for the purpose of coupling another turret unit thereto in tandem relation.

Rieferring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the novel turret unit comprises a pair of identical, substantially dome-shaped turrets i, fabricated of sheet metal of a gauge and character that is highly resistant to bullet penetration.

Each dome-shapcditurret I is formed, at its openior lower end, with aheavy-duty, radially projecting rin 2, while at the apex each turret includes a bearing sleeve 3 which extends axially of the turret.

About'the face of theturret I and between its upper and lower-ends, the same is formed with a circumferential door opening 4 and circumferential window openings or firing po1ts'5; the door opening t being adapted to be closed by sliding doors 6, While the firingports 5 are adapted to be closed by sliding plates 7.

The sliding doors 6 and sliding plates 1 are carried in guidew'ays 8 and 8, respectively, each such sliding door'and sliding plate'being adapted to be releasa-bly locked in closed position by a spring pressed, plunger-type latch l0, one of which is shown in detail in Fig. 3. The plungertype latches [0 are mounted interiorly on the turret I, and the plunger H of each such latch releasably projects through'a corresponding hole in the related door 6 or'sliding plate I.

When each turret is in use it is seated on the ground, as in Fig. 2, serving effectively a a pill'-box; firing from the same being accom plished by openin either the sliding doors 6 or sliding plates 1, as required.

For additional head room the earth within each turret l-maybe dug out'inthe nature of a fox-hole to increase head room in said turret.

The open bearing sleeve 3 affords adequate top ventilation for each turret I when it is in use; suchsleeve also serving another purpose, as will hereinafter appear.

The radiallyprojecting. ring 2 assures against each turret l bogging into the ground when it is in use.

When it is desired to transport a number of the turrets I to a different location, a pair of such turrets are set on. their sides; 1. e. with their axes horizontal and with the rings 2 in abutment, in the manner shownin Fig- 1.

A draft yoke I2 is. then disposed in straddling relation to the assembleclturrets l, in the manner shown in Fig. 1; such draft yoke including, at its rear ends, parallel draft arms l3 having bearing eyes I 4 formed thereon;

The bearing eyes [4 'are'then alined with the adjacent bearing sleeves 3, and an axle [5,. in the form of an elongated rodyisrun' axially through the turrets I, extending at the ends through the bearing sleeves 3 and bearing eyes [4.

At one end the axle I5 is formed with a transverse handle it which facilitates manipulation of such axle; said handle lfi'engaging against a stop 51 which projects from the adjacent draft arm It.

At the other end the axle i5 is pointed, as at l8, to facilitate its insertion in the assembly, and a removable cross pin !9 extends through the 3 pointed end portion it of the axle to prevent its retraction when the turret unit is assembled. The removable cross pin I5 is connected to a retention chain 20.

The total axial extent of the turrets I, including the bearing sleeves 3, is such that when the turrets are arranged end to end in the draft yoke 82, there is little end play between said sleeves and the draft arms l3, whereby the rings 2 are in close proximity, and provide-in effecta metallic tire centrally of the ends of the assembly.

A central tongue 2| projects forwardly from the yoke l2 and is adapted to be attached to a motor vehicle whereby the described turret unit may be towed for movement from place to place.

The turrets of each unit can be released from the assembly and set up quickly and readily; this being accomplished merely by removing the cross pin l 2, Withdrawing the axle l5, setting the draft yoke l2 aside, and then tipping the turrets to an upright position. The turrets are then llll" mediately available for use, providing effective protection, for occupants, against enemy gunfire.

Under certain conditions it may be desirable to couple two or more of the turret units in tandem for towing by a single motor vehicle. In such event a supplementary draft yoke 22, as shown in Fig. 4, straddles the assembled turrets l of the foremost turret unit from the rear; such supplementary draft yoke 22 including forwardly projecting, parallel draft arms 23 having bearing eyes 24 on their forward ends. The bearing eyes 24 are engaged between pairs of upstanding attachment ears 25 which are secured on the draft arms l3, and a removable cross pin 26 engages through each set of the eyes 24 and ears 25; each cross pin 26 being maintained against loss by a retention chain 21.

The supplementary draft yoke 22 includes a central, rearwardly projecting hitch 2% to which the draft tongue 2! of the trailing turret unit is connected.

In the foregoing manner the turret units may be coupled in tandem, yet all are capable of being disassembled. rapidly, as is necessary for use of the turrets.

When a number of the turret units are coupled traindlke in tandem, they may be pulled behind any type of military vehicle, including tanks.

The turret unit provides for the fast and mobile v transfer of metallic turrets or pill-boxes on war fronts, with the turrets capable of being set up, for use, solely by manpower, and on very short notice.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred. construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. A mobile turret unit comprising a pair of initially separate turrets of substantially dome shape, said turrets being disposed with their axes horizontal and their open ends in engagement, a transverse axle, the turrets being quick-removably journaled on the axle, a draft yoke straddling the engaged turrets from the front, means quick-detachably connecting the rear ends of the yoke and axle, a central hitch on the yoke, and heavy-duty ground-engaging rings projecting radially from the turrets at said open ends, said rings being in matching abutment.

2. A mobile turret unit comprising a pair of initially separate turrets of substantially dome shape, said turrets being disposed with their axes horizontal and their open ends in engagement, a transverse axle, the turrets being quick-removably journaled on the axle, a draft yoke straddling the engaged turrets from the front, means quick-detachably connecting the rear ends of the yoke and axle, a central hitch on the yoke, the turrets having access and firing openings therein, movable closure members for said openings, and interiorly accessible means to releasably secure said closure members against movement from a closed position. v

3, A mobile turret unit comprising a pair of initially separate turrets of substantially dome shape, said turrets being disposed with their axes horizontal and their open ends in engagement, bearing sleeves mounted axially at the apex of each turret, said sleeves being in alinement when the turrets are engaged at their open ends, an axle extending through the end-engaged turrets and projecting through said bearing sleeves, a draft yoke straddling the end-engaged turrets from the front, means quick-detachably connecting the rear ends of the draft yoke to corresponding end portions of the axle, and a central hitch on the yoke.

4. A mobile turret unit comprising a pair of initially separate turrets of substantially dome shape, said turrets being disposed with their axes horizontal and their open ends in engagement, bearing sleeves mounted axially at the apex of each turret, said sleeves being in alinement when the turrets are engaged at their open ends, an axle extending through the end-engaged turrets and projecting through said bearing sleeves, a draft yoke straddling the end-engaged turrets from the front, means quick-detachabl connecting the rear ends of the draft yoke to corresponding end portions of the axle, said means including draft eyes on the yoke and the axle projecting through said eyes, and a central hitch on the yoke.

5. A mobile turret unit, as in claim 4, including releasable means arranged to normally prevent withdrawal of the axle from the turrets, bearing sleeves and draft eyes, a transverse handle o one end of the axle, and a stop, on the adjacent portion of the yoke, against which the handle engages.

LEE ELLIOTT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,309,928 Wolfard July 15, 1919 1,327,326 Howland Jan. 6, 1920 2,362,040 White Nov. 7, 1944 2,363,356 Pilager Nov. 21, 1944 2,372,043 Aghnides Mar. 20, 1945 2,384,646 Schwab Sept. 11, 1945 2,399,778 Wike May '7, 1946 

